Monday, March 25, 2013

My Coffey family is very big in Russell County, KY. I have my line up as Bessie, E. Cordelia., Nancy, to Joel.
Joel Coffey was one of at least eight Joel Coffey's living in the Russell County area in the early 1800's. There is no way that anyone will ever sort it out precisely.
The Coffey researchers claim that my Joel is most likely the son of Martin Coffey. There is a lot of information about him . I have combined and edited what I have found and included as much source info as I could relocate to post here I hope this gives you plenty of info to verify and perhaps find even more

Please be sure to visit Coffey Cousins as well as Rootsweb and Fomily Search for much more.

MARTIN COFFEY
Birth Sept. 15, 1762 - Birthdate of Martin Coffey, according to family records and Bible records of Albert Galatin Coffey and William Martin Coffey, two of his grandsons
Place has been given as Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Kentucky.

Marriage #1
ca 1782 - Married in N. C to Elizabeth Bronson, he was 20 and she was 17.
(This according to Nina Jean Coffey Deavers, great granddaughter of George A.C. Coffey)
TL NOTE= other researchers have not found this record.

Marriage #2
Aug.17, 1798 - Madison County, Ky. marriage records show Martin Coffey married to Nancy Phelps.
permission letter to marry signed by Mary Phelps and listed Phillip Phelps and Gary? Phelps
Bond was by Shad Phelps (Shadrack Phelps, age 60-70 in Russell County, Ky. 1840 census.
Possibly a brother of Nancy Phelps.)
MORE About Nancy Phelps

Father of John Phelps
WILL OF Thomas Phelps
I, Thomas Phelps of Ablemarle County being weak in body but in sound mind and perfect memory...
bequeath to,,,,,
I lend my loving wife Elizabeth Phelps During her widowhood all my whole Estate Real and personal
my loving son Thomas Phelps three hundred acres on both sides of Bridle Creek ...
my loving son John Phelps the plantation where on I now dwell & and the Island I now tend in
and three hundred acres of on both sides of hunts Creek
my daughter Mary Patteson one Shilling Sterling.
grand Daughter Joyce Patteson and my grand son Peter Patteson Betwixt them both one childs part
all my Personal estate equally Divided among all my children Except my Daughter Mary Patterson
ordain my son Thomas Phelps and my son in Law Richard Givin to be execut
inventory for the estate of Thomas Phelps, Sr. was returned to the Albemarle County Court November 14th, 1751
If this is the father of Thomas he did not mention Thomas , but there is a grandson John so this could be right.Father of Thomas Phelps
John Phelps Birth: EST 1655 in Maryland Death: 1747 in Bedford Co., VA
Marriage Margaret TALBOT b: EST 1689
"Goochland County Deeds and Wills," Virginia Land Records, from The Virginia Magazine of
Hist ory and Biography, the William and May Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly. Genealogical Publish ing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1982, p. 80
Will of John Phelps (x) sic, son John the use of the land where he son lives,
and at his death to his heirs; also one negro; to son the use of the land where James Stratford
lives and at his death to heirs, and also 6 negroes, also 500 acres on Fleamon's Creek, 560 and also l
and testator lives on (after the death of testator's wife), negroes &c; to grandson John Phelps 54 acres and one negro; to grandaughter Mary Phelps , one negro; grandaughter Sarah Phelps, one negro; 3 negroes for her life and then to son William, the use of plantation where testator lives, &c, &c; the negroes given to grandchildren to be in the care of Wm Phelps.SonsSamuel and William executors. Dated February 14, 1747.

Marriage #3 Nancy HERIFORD (Hansford) b: 1793 in Jamestown, Russell Co., KY
Married: 1 Dec 1817 in Wayne County, KY Justice of the Peace. Bond dated December 1, 1817. ( Research by David Coffey) Surety by Thomas Back. Marriage by W. Barnes,
* Wayne County marriages by Bork lists the bride's name as Nancy Hansford but the name could be Heriford. A Andrew Herriford was shown on a delinquent tax record.

June 28, 1821 - Wayne County Deed Book C, Pages 254 - 255:
Indenture: James Jones to Martin Coffey....$80 for 40 acres granted to David Sheeks
(Research by David Coffey)

March 11, 1822 - Wayne County Deed Book C, Pages 313 - 314: Indenture: Martin Coffey and Nancy, His wife, to James McNeely...$200 for 50 acres being land granted to David Sheeks
.Witness Rodes Garth, Ulyses Mills. (Research by David Coffey)

December 23, 1822 - Wayne County Court records show Martin Coffey & William Scott bound unto George Mundy for a judgement against Martin Coffey for $25. James Dean, John Meadows and Gholston Wilson were summoned to speak on behalf of Coffey in a matter of controversy. Martin Coffey did not appear for trial and he was ordered to pay said Mundy $25 plus interest from January 9, 1822 and the cost of the trial of 64 1/2 cents.

December 7, 1825 - Wayne County, KY - Martin Coffey married to Nancy Cundiff. Surety was Benjamin Stokes. Witnessed by Martin Coffey and Benjamine Stokes. believed to be a Martin Jr.

January 31, 1826 - Wayne County, KY - Elizabeth A. Coffey married Elisha Mitchell.
Consent by Martin & Nancy Coffey. Bond & Minister missing from records.
- January 31, 1826, Wain County. This is to sartify that my daughter is not of age and
I am willing for her to have Elijah Mitchell. Given under my hand by Martin Coffey and Nancy Coffey, witness Joel Coffey. TL NOTE Might be my Joel

August 29, 1828 - Will Book 1, Russell County - Martin bought at the estate sale of edward Long,
one pair of hames (wooden pieces to a harness) .121 1/2 cents and three pewter dishes for $3.00.
(*Research by David Coffey)

CENSUS: 1860 census #711 - Russell County, KY -
Coffey, Martin 94 M Farmer Born Va. , Nancy 65 F Born Ky.
TL NOTE if Martin died in November 27,1867 he could have been 101 yrs old
This date is said to be recorded the bibles of grandson's
Albert Gallatin Coffey and William Martin Coffey

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Lily McIlhaney
Ah the Irish woman I hoped to claim. She was the mother of a Rebecca Bowen.
I have not pursued this too much since I doubt she is my relative. But I just hate throwing out any research so perhaps someone else will find this useful.
Lily McIlhaney was said to be born about 1709 in Ireland to Henry MCILHANEY (b: 1673 Ireland and Jane MCGEEHAN (b: 1673 Ireland)
I have no info about her trip here but it appears she met John Bowen in PA possibly Chester or Delaware Co.
She married John BOWEN (b 1696 in Gwynnedd township, Chester Co. PA)
I read a lovely story about John Bowen being awestruck by the lovely Irish lass but who knows the truth of their meeting.
I found this quote about John though " the Quaker who was remarkable for his personal prowess, and an active, energetic farmer of considerable wealth for that day" I read they owned slaves and are said to be mentioned in "Lyman Chalkley's Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia -
Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800."
It does seem they were married and living in VA by 1730.

John died by 1761 Wife, Lillis ( Lillie), named sole executor and guardian of the youngest girl, Mary.
At that point it appears in various online biographies about her , Lily was a very good business woman herself, increasing the family wealth after John's death. This may explain why she was executor not one of the adult sons.

In 1779, she purchased 800 acres on Holston River Valley in VA. This was after John's death

Lily signed a will April 4, 1780 and I believe it was taken to probate in June 1780 Washington Co., VA, she left her estate to Reece, William, Robert, Henry, Charles, Agnes, and Jean.
(TL NOTE No Rebecca but also no Jane, John, Arthur, or Mary I know there was a Mary from John's will did she (Mary) die?)

It appears Lily may be in the DAR register--- I found this note about her --"She became a patriot in the American Revolution by furnishing supplies and feeding and clothing colonial troops in the continental army." I read all of the sons were in the Revolutionary War and all of the daughters
married men who were in the war also.

If my family is thru the George Schmidt Smith line, then this is reportedly a grandmother.
I have many doubts about this line including the distrubing statement that the Rebecca Bowen married John Whitley, died, Neither John or Lily named her in their wills . John Whitley was still nearby as he signed as a witness for Lily.

If Rebecca was still living, if she had run away from John as some have claimed, why would Lily still associate with John?

I have seen some strange family relationships in my own experience, so I cannot rule the possibilty .

The George Smith is said to be a german immigrant who was orphaned after he arrived here. He married a woman named Rebecca Bowen and was an early settler . One of his sons would later be a famous preacher called "Raccoon John". I believe he performed the wedding of my Henry Hill to Sally Tackett

not my relative but is close to George Smith family --from www.dentongenealogy.org
Rev. Isaac Denton -- Clinton County's first preacher. At the age of 18 he moved with his parents to Tennessee.
Here he made a profession of religion and was baptized in 1792. He was ordained to the ministry soon after and spent some years preaching among the churches of the area. Through the persuasion of friends he left TN and came to Clinton CO, KY. He was instrumental in organizing Beaver Creek Baptist church in Wayne CO, probably the first in that county,

Clear Fork Church
Founded 1802
April 1, 1802, the church was constituted. Page 411 of the
original record book shows the following charter members:
James Brock- Agnes Couch- James Couch-
Benjamin Campbell- Anna Denton- Isaac Denton
Martha Denton- William Goodson -
George Smith-
Thomas Stockton- Samuel Wood - William Wood

TL NOTE t Racoon John studied with Denton and the George Smith family named children, Denton so I presume they were all close

Sunday, March 17, 2013

I found this in files, It has some info on Dorothy as well as some sources- decided to post

Thomas Day was probably born about 1651
He married a woman named Dorothy Hudson . There is some conflict of who she was there is this --
Researcher claims from the "Index to Marriages of Old Rappahannock and Essex Counties, Virginia, page 79: 1676, Day, Thomas Married Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Hudson. Book D 5, Page: 514.

OR THIS ---

"Know all men that I Thomas DAY of Rappa Planter de upon consideration of a Marriage with Dorothy HUDSON as alsoe for and in consideration of a Horse received of the said Dorothy hereby engage myself my heirs & assigns to buy a Mare filly of a yeare old the same to be bought within this two years and what Female increase comes of the said Mare to be equally divided between Laurana, Anne & William HUDSON and Mary BARTLET ......" etc.

***TL NOTE -**she might have been a widow -possibly of Edward Hudson- with perhaps four children. This appears to be 1673 ( could be 1676) I assume that Laurana, Anne, Wm and Mary are all her children. It appears Mary is already of age to be married which would likely make Dorothy as a bit older than our Thomas who is likely only 22 to 25 years old at this time. If the deceased husband had been married before, then the mother of these children could be in doubt. Would need to locate info on his will & probate. (see Combs Family site below for more info)****

Thomas Day purchased land from William Hudson and wife Rebecca Woodnut Hudson located in Essex County, Virginia in 1687 and another 189 acres from John Brookes in 1693
No record yet located about what happened to Dorothy.
By 1698, Thomas appears to have married second time, to Elizabeth (surname unknown). Thomas had one daughter, Elizabeth Mary Angelica Day, born between 1688 and 1699, who later married George Shepherd. There has not been any proof that I know of whether E.M.A. Day is the daughter of Dorothy Hudson or Elizabeth Unknown but the name implies she is Elizabeth's daughter. Her children were born between 1730-1739 so best guess of childbearing age would put her birth 1690-1699.
Sometime before Feb 10, 1699 a neighbor, Mary Hodges, visited the Day home and found Elizabeth Day "lying dead upon the bed in a most horrod and barboriy mannor all Gored in Blood " and Thomas Day also had wounds on his face. Thomas Day said his wife died about two hours before sunrise, but he did not know what had happened to her. (more info on the 1st page about Day)

All witnesses recorded in the court record gave the same report. The jurors decided "Thom. Day is Guilty of ye murdering ye said Elizabeth Day. " February 10, 1699

THEN in 1700 -"In Aprill Generall Court 1700 Day of Essex County for ye Murder of Eliza Cay wife of Thomas Day of Essex Acquitted and discharged"

"In October General Court 1700 John Smith for Felony & ye murder of Eliza Day Wife of Thomas Day of Essex County. Found Guilty. Condemned and was Executed" (See McIlwaine info below for more)
So far I have found no other info of who John Smith was or why he may have murdered Eliza Day

It appears that Thomas never truly recovered from the ordeal.

"I Thomas Day of South Farnham Parish in Essex County, Planter, doe assigne and sett over
all my right title clayme and interest unto the within written deed unto Jacob Devillard
of the aforesd county, .....this seaventeenth day of March 1701/2 ...Acknowledged in Essex
county court the 11th day of May 1702 and truely recorded" .

( I encourage you to visit the rootsweb site of Mr. Sheppard for all of info and much more,
he deserves the credit)
I assume Thomas was too ill or otherwise incapable of caring for his property.
Then just four years later he writes his will in December 1705 and it is in probate
the following February 1706
From "Fleet's Colonial Abstracts"---Essex County, VA Vol 29, pae 81 No. 12, page 181
"To all to who these presents shall come Greting know yee that I
thomas Day of the parish of South Farnham in the County of Essex
in Virginia being in a sickly weake and low condition and noe(ways)
waies Capable to tke care of, or provide for myself and that little Estate
it hath pleased God to bestow upon me (it chiefly lying in Perishable Creatures)
have and by these presents doe Bargain Sell Bind and firmly make over unto
Jn'o Fargason of the parish and County aforsaid planter all and singular my said Estate",
etc. In consideration Fargason "to maintain and keep me the said Day During my naturall
life with sufficient accomodation of victuals Cloathes washing and lodging and give to
Eliza a Mary Angillica Day my Daughter when whe arrive to the age of Eighteen* or when
married one Cowe and Calfe."
5 Dec 1705
signed
Tho x Day
Wit: John Fargason ---------Wm. Aylett -----------Adam Denning
Ack and rec 11 Feb 1705/6

Monday, March 4, 2013

This weekend I decided to change my family tree. For over a year now I have known that DNA evidence was not leading me up the Smith branch of my tree the way I had been told by other researchers. But I was holding fast that it would eventually be shown that my supposed gggg-grandfather was a cousin to the DNA proven line. I like the story that he and his wife have attached to them. But when I found myself trying to make the evidence fit my theory, instead of following the trail of evidence to wherever it may lead... Then I knew it was time to give it up. No point in leaving that on the list, I can always put him back if the evidence ever supports it ,right?

So with a deep breath I hit DELETE.

Then to console myself , I decided to dig around a bit with one of my favorites, Hot Grandma Elizabeth. I found her Wild Child Malinda mentioined in an old Rootsweb list and began to read about her husbands and children and then----OH NO!!! The writer suggested that Malinda was the granddaughter of Lewis Wilburn. Now I am sure Lewis was a great guy, he was the brother of Stephen Wilburn , the grandpa I have listed. The problem with this Lewis theory is that, if true, I will lose my beloved Wallen/ Walling connection!!!!! I have spent hours reading about the Longhunters and their adventures. I have studied the Salem Witch Trials, and poured thru pages of early New England Puritan history. Now to possibly lose that whole line!!!!!!.

So I pushed myself away from the computer last night, with a very Scarlett O'Hara attitude of "I'll think about that tomorrow".

This morning I turned to Morning Wallen, sad that I could lose her wonderful history. I looked at the picture I had attached to her not really sure what that was, though I thought it was a page from the marriage records book. When I brought it up on screen -Lo and Behold- it was a page from a diary dated 1850 listing births of her, Stephen, and their children including Hot Grandma Elizabeth!

From intro to document: The pages copies herein are from an old record book
brought from Eastern Tennessee to Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas in
1850 and discovered among the personal papers of Thomas J. Walden, Busch,
Arkansas, after his death in 1951

That is what happens when you collect so much you can not keep track of it all. Anyone that wishes to see that page can find it at Ancestry.com posted on the Kelsey Wilburn Family Tree